I decided to fork out the cash to try Tacubaya this week. Two tacos + appetizer + bottled water = $13 = Never again. I'm grudgingly giving the place three stars because the appetizer -- papas con crema ("potato & cheese fritters in poblano cream sauce") was quite good, giving me the impression that the other dishes would probably fare just as well. The tacos de asada, on the other hand, were just above-average tacos shrunk down in size and marked up in price. Not at all worth the $3.25. As an aside, I don't think I've ever been to a place in Berkeley or its neighboring cities that was as homogeneous as 4th Street. It's amusing to start at Downtown Berkeley, go past a huge stretch of University Ave. that has very little of interest, and somehow end up in a Mexican restaurant that's teeming with non-Mexicans. read more

Delicious light Mexican cuisine. I ate a pair of spicy chicken quesadillas with cheese and some kind of delicious brown mole. Chips were freshly baked, both warm and crunchy, and the guacamole was nicely spiced (and not salted!). Prices are a little high: you'll pay $5-$10 for a dish (or $3 for a taco), but the portion sizes are a little smaller than average. You might be encouraged to get an extra dish for your group to compensate -- which drives the total bill up. Despite this, the food's tasty and the menu varied enough that I'd definitely go back. read more

Pricey ... small portions ... service just ok ... I had better mexican restaurants ... and way cheaper ! read more

The chili relleno was one of the best I have ever had, although it could have been set off for just a couple more seconds before plating in order to let some of the oil off of it. Still the inside was great, slightly lemony in fact, with pieces of asperagus. Yum. My girlfriend got one taco, and actually split the filling up between two tortiallas to make two, that is how big they are. read more

Came here for lunch on a Friday and it was packed (read: line was out the door)! Whether the staff was super speedy or I was too distracted by my co-workers to notice, but the line moved swiftly along and in no time at all, it was my turn. I settled on the Tacos de Asada (3.65) and was not disappointed. Savory, juicy, and filling is how I'd describe them. My coworker got the fish tacos (3.65)....and they were huuuuge. The location and ambiance are just great. Close to 4th street and cute shops to peruse during my lunch-break. Solid lunch place! read more

Came to leave this review because I work a couple doors down and frequently eat here. Food is always great but on only one occasion I was treated extremely rude by a single employee. When I returned to leave a complaint the manager assured me he would have a conversation with this employee. He also bought my lunch on this day. Amazing customer service aside from the single rude employee which I hope will not continue to be so rude. Manager handled this exactly how it should be and I will continue to frequent this restaurant because of the way he handled the situation. read more

I always have great food here, and nice service. Today I'm having the perfect lunch, a crispy masa cake topped with chorizo and potatoes, and a homemade horchata. Sunny day, dog can sit with me at the outside tables. It's in a fancy part of town, and although I think it's a good value someone looking for a standard burrito or a traditional Bay Area taco stand may not be happy here. They do make everything themselves, and everything I've had is fresh and super tasty. They also sell some of their dried chiles and other ingredients. All good! read more

The food was really good here, the wait and service just ok. Order the guacamole and chips, the guacamole is so fresh and the chips are very thick and crunchy. I ordered the ceviche de pescado and the sope de chorizo y papas which were very good. Also had the enchiladas which were good but very tiny. Portions are small here, so prepare to order more than one dish to get full. The place is kinda cramped, so you might have to wait a little for a table, and the line is long but moves quickly. read more

We're Blessed in Berkeley, with Tacubaya, Picante, and Dona Tomas just over in Oakland. Honorable mention for Mario's and Juan's as well. I don't like 4th street, but this place eases some of the Yuppie self-loathing with tasty breakfast and lunch food. And they're not afraid to give you avocado. Not one bit. read more

4th Street, 4th Street, 4th Street... You are such a cute area, and you have delicious eateries. Tacubaya... I would actually give you 3.5 stars... but that isn't an option :( The pollo tacos were pretty good, but mine were particularly wet. I'm not sure if this was from the oil that the taco shells were fried in or the broth that the chicken was cooked in. Either way my crispy taco shells were slightly soggy :( My friend's pork soft taco looked really good though, and the table next to us ordered chips with fresh guacamole... YUM! Next time I come I'll be sure to try the guac and maybe be a little more adventurous. Overall though I think the tacos were pretty decent, but I'm a fan of the chicken tacos at Cactus down College Ave near Rockridge bart :) read more

Wow! What an awesome Mexican place! A friend and I went here while we were waiting for a mani/pedi in the local area (Dont go there). I was skeptical at first walking in because it seemed like a high price taqueria that was average. How wrong was I. I ordered the two enchilada plate with no rice or beans. My friend ordered an iced coffee which was comparable to Blue Bottle Coffee (Which in my opinion is the best coffee there is so needless to say it was great.) We sat outside and waited for my food. Took about fifteen minutes for it to come out and the presentation was amazing! Smelled and looked delicious. Overall this place was amazing. A little pricey but I think for what I got it was worth it. Would definitely come to this place again : ) read more

Solid food. Quick turnaround. Decent prices. We've started coming here every weekend for a cheap and delicious breakfast/lunch. At this point, I have tried half the menu and have not been disappointed by anything. My favorites: - Chile Relleno - Taco Vegetariano - Papas con crema - Sopa de Tortilla (!) - Chorizo and Eggs PS: The line moves at a decent pace, and the food literally comes out 5 min after your order. It's magic. read more

Way overpriced. Not authentic. Very bland. And not so friendly staff. We got enchiladas (no rice or beans), soup, and a beer for $25. Wowzers. And still hungry after. Won't be coming back.... Sorry read more

I was (probably delusional) optimist about this place off the 4th street shopping center for a quick-ish bite to eat. After standing in line for a good long while, we settled on tacos and enchiladas. Food looked good, prices are a bit much for how small the portions are (avoid the non-alcoholic drinks at all cost... they are crazy expensive which we learned the hard way). Waited a while for our food, and man... that was a disappointment. It didn't taste bad. It just tasted meh. The asada is meat, so I supposes it's not false advertising. But if anyone has ever had actually good carna asada... this is no where close. The enchiladas were better than the tacos, but still that's not saying much. We could have gotten the same tastes at an American "Mexican" chain restaurant. Won't be back. Bummer. read more

Ever since I first tasted Tacos Al Pastor (marinated pork, barbecued on a verticle spit) I have been in love with the stuff. And it is hard to find, even in Los Angeles. The meat becomes barbecued with that kind of slightly crunchy carmelized taste that can drive a man wild. So when I found tacos al pastor at Tacubaya, just a mile down my street I was overjoyed. But the good tastes do not end there, my taste buddies! Try the Tamale in Mole Sauce or the ultra delicious if somewhat greasy Chorizo and Papas Sopes. These little corn cakes are a wonderour mound of masa, black bean, aforementioned chorizo and tasty fried potaoes, topped with sour cream. Absolutely amazing! Actually, everything here is delicious--Tacubaya is a gourmet restaraunt disguised as a taqueria and has the prices to prove it. I eat here every week. read more

I went here for lunch today and while the food was not bad, it just didn't hit the spot , as Simon Cowell often says, "I not going to remember that performance (OK, put the word food here) tomorrow" the food is a bit pricier than most Mexican food, I had the Tamal de Verduras and a Fish taco. When the tamale was dropped on my table I was pretty impressed over the presentation. there was crema, some sauces drizzed over the masa which was sitting on top what looked like a tea leaf. While it looked impressive, it taste just, well forgetable. After looking at it, I had high hopes, which the actual taste did not come close to matching. The taco was OK again, but suffered from the tortilla not being heated/put on a grill. the sauce which was drizzled on it was tasty, but the tortillas ruined it.....kinda like eating a warm burger with a cold, untoasted bun. I was all fired up to try the Blue Bottle Drip coffee, I have met James the owner of Blue Bottle and I know he is way way passionate over coffee. I never had the paitience to stand in a 30 min line over at the Berklely, Temescal Farmers Markets, so today was perfect. ...The Coffee was also a huge let down. It was very very mild, without any body. It reminded me of a coffee which one could drink at Midnight, right before bed. I prefer the Premium Coffee stuff over at McDonalds to be honest with you. The highlight of the meal was the Aguas Fresca which today was a Blood Orange. From the first sip I was hooked. It was the one item which differentiated itself from a cheap hole in the wall taco shop and one where a trained person was in charge. ..Many Aquas Frescas taste overally sweet and almost Syruppy. The Tacubaya was fresh and I could actually taste the real fruit flavor of the Blood Orange. Would I go back ? If i was in the area and was with a friend who was a clean freak and scared of greasy spoon type places.....otherwise, I can think of numerous other places which taste better and cost 1/2 the price. read more

As a native Californian, I'll be the first the admit that we are ever so lucky to have a plethora of Mexican restaurants in our neighborhoods. Tacubaya is the local joint for those who reside around 4th Street in Berkeley and fits its local clientele to a tee. They feature a pretty traditional Mexican menu in a classy, yet rustic setting. The prices aren't comparable to say, your average taco truck, but when you go, you are paying for the quality of the ingredients used, so I can live with the extra dollar or two. In my book, a good Mexican restaurant can be determined by its tacos. If a restaurant can put forth good street tacos, then it receives my seal of approval. Tacubaya did a good job in the taco category, but not good enough to justify its increased price from the taco trucks. I ordered the lengua and the al pastor and both were tender and very good, but I suppose lacked the wow-factor (aka greasiness) I was looking for. The entire meal was saved by the made to order churros, which were heavenly and reminded my of the hot, fresh Disneyland churros of my childhood. The blood orange aguas fresca was also quite delicious and memorable. When the economy picks up or if I win the lottery, maybe Tacubaya will become my main choice for Mexican eats, but until then, I'll stick with my local taquerias and trucks. read more

4.5 stars. Best vegetarian tamale.. EVER!!! The seasoning and fresh ingredients were spot on and I walked out happy and plump. I had to fight the urge to scrape the plate clean so needless to say I will be back!! read more

I went here based on my sister's past visits and I was disappointed! I decided to try something totally different and I had the sope. It was awesome - a crispy corn cake with potatoes, chorizo, and black beans. It doesn't look big but it is filling! Now, I'm on a, mission to find sopes in my neighborhood but I fear they may not be as good as Tacubayas! Good job guys and thank you for introducing me to something new. On a side note, my sister also recommended the home made churros. read more

Nice food. I do like Dona Thomas. You'll have to go down to the corner ATM and get another $20 if you want to be full. I guess they have to pay the rent so I can't knock them for that. The little taco bar in the back of the Mexican market ("mi ranchito?") on San Pablo and University is better and about one third the price. read more

I can't say this is the best Mexican food I've ever had, but it definitely ranks up there! Seriously, these guys know what they are doing. AND, my kids like it! The Tortilla Soup is quite good, Tamale con Mole is rockin, and they serve Plantains! Coffee is also good and thick. It's our lunch spot of choice in Berkeley, especially if we're on 4th street for anything else (like shopping at The Ark Toystore.) This is a sister restaurant to Dona Tomas in Oakland, which is also quite good, but the service at Tacubaya is MUCH better. An added bonus is a reasonable outdoor dining area where I can have my dog with us. read more

My co-workers and I are addicted. Really. We get someone to make the short jaunt over at least once, if not twice a week. OH and now we've begun to get breakfast as well. Where else can I grab fried tofu with creamy vegetarian (vegan if you ask for no cheese) black beans, salsa and corn tortillas for breakfast? No, seriously, if you can find it I want to know but I doubt it'll make for happy no-eggs-no-meat breakfast tacos. Word of warning on the agua frescas--the limonata is always good for those who like a full sweet but lemony beverage. Today I switched it up. The strawberry was a little sweet for my taste, but made for a nice 'dessert' post meal. Tastes like liquid candy, almost. EDIT: I had a little chat with the counter gal today who doubly confirmed what my co-workers had told me. To reiterate, as long as you get the black beans without cheese, they're vegan, as is the rice. read more

This is fresh and flavorful Mexican. Not the heavily sauced and bland Mexican. I love their chicken tacos - just the right size with a crispy shell. The pork tamales with mole sauce are great too. Balanced - flavoring both in the filling and the masa. Their melon and horchata are awesome. I prefer either of those to a soda. And the churros? Yummy! I did learn after my first visit that if you want more than one tamale or taco, for example, that you have to ask for it. The first time I ordered they only gave me one, which resulted in my having to order seconds. Other than that I like the atmosphere and the employees are great. read more

Excellent mexican dishes Black Bean puree is delicious Tacos really fresh and delicious Very good all around Service - takes too long, forever to get served...that is why a star is missing. Also a bit overpriced for mexican read more

Went here for a quick dinner (at 4:30pm) yesterday. The place was empty and yet I waited, and waited, and waited to order. When I asked if one of the dishes could be made without onions, I was told NO...everything was all mixed together already. So, right off the bat, I was stuck with a long wait to order and the promise of reheated pre-made food to look forward to...Yikes. I settled on the enchiladas, which could not be made without the beef (I just wanted cheese) and a mango agua fresca. For $8.50, I expected rice and beans to come with the enchiladas. Nope. Those things were $3 extra. And call me cheap, but I HATE when places charge for chips and salsa. I was out $13.50, and only had a small glass of agua fresca and two wimpy enchiladas to show for it. Boooooo, Tacubaya. read more

I've been coming to Tacubaya for a couple years now and usually the food is pretty consistent. For the most part, I've enjoyed everything I've eaten but nothing has left me craving the food. I think part of the reason I keep coming back is the proximity to the crate and barrel outlet HAHA. Came here a week ago and got the tamale that was the special. It had corn in it and squash but it wasn't very flavorful. It was a dried out, over steamed tamale that was kinda like a masa brick. The salsa on top was so-so, it ended up being one of those things you dump hot sauce on in order to finish it. I also get the tacos pescado which are usually amazing! I'm not sure if it was that afternoon or what but the tacos were not crunchy at all. It was definitely fried and hot but it ended up being a soggy mess with some raw cabbage tossed on top. Usually the salsa for the tacos is stronger but it just seemed to be a pretty off day. The rice is always great here, but I do sympathize with the people that feel like paying extra for rice or beans is a little much sometimes (especially since the price of the food to start is on the higher side). I will definitely be back, but sad to say that I will be a little hesitant to order those tacos pescado again! read more

I try to go here at least once a week! LOVE it. I lived in France for two years, and this equals no Mexican food! I would dream of my beloved Tacubaya and it was one of the first places I ate when I moved back to the Bay Area. Everything is good, even their salad with pepitas and avocado. My favorite would have to be the tortilla soup,and the tamales. Just go and eat for yourself. read more

Seriously? $7 for 12 chips and two table spoons of guac? Wait, now that i look at it again, I guess I understand the guac portion given the measly number of chips. Food was good, but WAAAAY too spendy. We had a group of five, and asked the cashier if the $7 chips/guac order was enough for all of us. She alluded that it would be (which seemed logical given the price point), and so we stuck with one. I give 'em three stars because the food is very very good, but seriously...skip the guac. read more

Uhm....I've been a regular customer here for the last 5 years. For the most part, I've loved the food, which has been reliably solid, good fresh ingredients, etc. However, I had the unfortunate experience of starting to dig into a spring salad and discovering a long black hair about 6 inches long or so among the lettuce. That was last year, and I've struggled to forget it. But my experience at Tacubaya a few days ago has pushed me over the line. When ordering I was informed that they were out of chicken tacos, out of pork tacos and a few other things. WTF. how could a tacqueria not serve chicken tacos!? I ordered some other things, that were so, so, (soup unevenly heated (microwaved?) and tortillas that were old and leathery), and THE KICKER IS... that at the bottom of a large spring salad I shared with my partner, we discovered a thick larvae, about an inch long, that's right...LARVAE...as in a baby bug chilling out in the bottom of my bowl! Needless to say, we asked for and were granted a FULL REFUND for our meal. But I became nauseous and had to run to the facilities after finding the thing. I wish this wasn't true, but I don't think I can bring myself to eat here again. Really disappointed and disgusted! read more

The Chilaquiles are the best. I get them every time I go there. Great place for a vegetarian meal. Parking is easy. Service is great. read more

The food here is so bland!!!! No matter how much Tapitio you dump on your plate, it still won't resurrect the flavor :-( the veggie tacos were okay, rice and beans okay, chips & salsa bleh, everything was just lacking spice! Just avoid this place and go to a hole in the wall that actually has decent Mexican food. I'm so disappointed!! read more

I've had tortas all up and down the Mexican peninsula and I've never had such a good breakfast torta, off the chain yo.

We tried the chilaquiles the huevos con chorizo torta de jamon and a kids quesadilla... not one thing was good... we wanted to love the place because everything looks so nice and has good ambiance but the food was a big no. Sadly won't be coming back. The chilaquiles had so much raw onion like half the plate was damn near just onions, not kidding. The torta was mostly all beans w one slice of ham and an undercooked egg. My sons quesadilla was also just ehh. And the huevos con chorizo had no flavor at all super bland. read more

Hands down I think they make the best Carne asada tacos in the East Bay. They also use Niman Ranch beef which is better quality. And the tortillas taste homemade. But food is always consistent! read more

It pains me to give this restaurant 2 stars when when 4 years ago I would have given it at least 4 stars. Has their food quality went down or have my standards/taste buds changed? I'm not sure. What I do know is that I ate here a few days ago and the meal was not worth the money I paid. Actually, I'm not sure I'd call it a meal. Both me and my partners meals were more like appetizers. Tis tis. The chicken in the chicken tacos was horrific! It was hard as a rock from having been fried with the taco shell. Not to mention the tacos themselves being microscopic. Both the green and red salsas were bland and watery. The chips were stale. The black beans looked and tasted like baby food (Why not whole black beans?) My chili relleno was decent. I ordered it because instead of just cheese, it was stuffed with squash. The relleno itself was huge but it didn't come with beans or rice, just a huge relleno on a huge plate. It would have been nice to have beans and rice on the side to compliment the relleno. Instead, they gave me a basket full of homemade soft tortillas. The tortillas were good. Overall the portion/price ratio lacked congruency. They're giving you 2-3 star portions and tastes with 4-5 star prices. The experience was definitely a bit yuppie and hyped for me. This place has lost a once proud customer. P.S. Back in 2004 this restaurant sold me with its tortilla soup. I used to crave it. I didn't have it this last time I went. It might still be good. I will never know. read more

I really loved this place. I just ate there recently and the food was not up to par with my previous experiences. Food tasted less delicate* and more generic. Portions were bigger, but that was never a problem with this place. I'd rather have the smaller portion with better quality. Enchiladas were drenched in sauce and creme and overstuffed with meat (too high meat ratio) and were not as delicate as in the past. Churros were literally covered in a enough sugar for 2 more orders. Mole Tamal was drenched in sauce, that was super sweet. Again, food lost the more delicate taste, which usually brought me back. Happy hour beers and shots were 10$. Really? I thought happy hour drinks were supposed to be cheaper, not more expensive. Not sure if new management followed the transition to the new location, but I will give this place one more shot to prove my bad experience was isolated and not something to be expected. 4.5 stars is for the previous good experiences. My most recent experience would be a 3 star. read more

This place is legit. Fairly expensive for the portions but in my opinion worth it. The Sope de Chorizo y Papas is outstanding. Small but delicious. The Torta al Pastor is what you need to try for your entree. Awesome! You can see them slice the pork right off the rotisserie which has a pineapple slice on the top which drizzles down as the pork cooks. I've also tried the Chile Relleno....crispy texture unlike the majority of places which I really like. I'm yet to rate any place a 5 but as of now this would be the closes to it. Definitely try it. read more

If you.... a)know REAL Mexican food b)love REAL Mexican food c)aren't looking for hyphenated Mexican(Cal-Mex, Tex-Mex, Ameri-Mex) You only need to know 4 syllables: TACUBAYA Hand-made tortillas, authentic, authentic, authentic. Nuff said. read more

Disappointed the fish tacos were soggy at the new location. This is the best item on the menu when done right. Extra star for the spacious bar and tequila selection. read more

"Next day, I carefully avoided the elaborate and cheerful eateries ... and went to what looked like a generic Mexican restaurant. I ordered from the blissfully ordinary menu the "number one" combination, enchiladas, chile rellenos and one cheese burrito. When the food came, I thought some mistake had been made.The food was entirely white! The enchiladas were pancakes wrapped around something reminiscent of chicken salad.The rellenos lay invisible under a white blanket of melted cheese with flakes of pimiento in it. Instead of tortillas, there was a basket of cheese bread... I sat there drenched in cold sweat.The town had been entirely taken over by art food, like the Village of the Damned. A square meal was nowhere to be had." --from "Art Food Invasion" by Andrei Codrescu Mr. Codrescu would likely hate this place. I, on the other hand, love both Mr. Codrescu and Tacubaya equally. The two share many similarities- They're both rather pretentious, very bourgeois, and yet, so deliciously addictive. Sometimes they get on my nerves for being so exclusive, but in the end, I always go back because they're one-of-a-kind. At Tacubaya, the White Food is especially wonderful; whenever I stop by, I make sure to get the Papas con Crema (crispy, mealy potato & cheese fritters blanketed under a smooth poblano cream sauce.) I follow it with a clean-tasting Taco de Lengua (Niman Ranch beef tongue with tomatillo salsa) and a fresh, vegetal Tamal de Verduras (kabocha squash, white beans, cheese & roasted poblanos steamed in banana leaves with salsa roja, crema & cilantro.) I like the firm bite of seasonal squash against the oozy cheese and sandy creaminess of the masa. If my significant other orders the Sope de Chorizo y Papas (crispy masa cake topped with black beans, Mexican sausage and potatoes, garnished with crema, queso cotija and pickled vegetables) I'll nibble at his 'til he gets mad and orders me another one. We share the milky-sweet cinammon horchata and walk away happy, despite our lighter wallets. read more